"I suppose if I'm going to make the most efficient use of my resources I should take advantage of the time I've already bought."
The food was so good and she'd been starving herself for so long that she didn't just want to eat more, she needed to eat more.
"That's right, you should" Yuuki said standing up with her plate. "C'mon, let's try and sample everything at the buffet before the hour's up."
Ruri got up and followed her back to the buffet table which was still not very crowded. She loaded up on beans, steak, exotic strawberries, blackberries and a few bread sticks before returning to her table with Yuuki.
"What's that?" Ruri asked, gesturing to an unfamiliar food item on her plate.
"These are buffalo wings" she answered. "It's chicken but with vinegar and spices and stuff."
"Is see. I'm not really into spicy food, but I suppose I'll try some chicken on the next trip."
Yuuki grinned. "Absolutely."
Ruri ate up her beans first and then spent some time savoring the strawberries and blackberries. The fruit tasted so juicy and it provided a nice variety to all the meat she'd eaten thus far, and would eat. She then attacked the large steak which took up half her plate by itself. It took the girl nearly half an hour to go through the large piece of meat, by the end of which she was thoroughly stuffed.
"Uuuugggghhhhh, so full" she groaned, gently rubbing her stomach through her shirt.
"Awww, c'mon Ruri" Yuuki complained. "You haven't tried the chicken yet."
Ruri grunted. Yes she wanted to try some of the chicken but she was already so full. Feeling her midsection through her shirt she felt it sticking out, creating a small bump that was very firm, indicating just how stuffed she was, even her stomach didn't ask for more.
"We still have fifteen minutes" Yuuki went on. "It would be a shame to waste it when there's so much more to eat."
Ruri winced but relented. "Alright, but just some chicken and you have to get it for me."
The other girl grinned. "Done." She got up and left to fill up Ruri's plate while Ruri sat and waited.
The food line was properly crowded now as the dinner rush began. Speaking of which she would have to make sure she got home in time to feed her young siblings.
Suddenly a belch escaped her lips and the girl covered her mouth is shock and shame. The burp had come out of nowhere and had been embarrassingly loud. Ruri's cheeks burned and was thankful that the ambient noise of conversation and feasting was loud enough to drown it out.
A moment later, Yuuki returned with a smaller plate of chicken. "We've only got ten minutes so I got you boneless chicken to make it easier for you."
Ruri was greatful for that, but even then there was still five pieces of chicken, any one of which would take up half the space on an ordinary dinner plate. Ruri wasn't sure she could finish them all but she was running out of time so she began quickly cutting up all the pieces into bite sized chunks and then one after the other began stabbing piece after piece with her fork and quickly putting it into her mouth. By the end of the third piece her stomach was quite disgruntled, emitting worrying creaking and groaning sounds as she started on the fourth piece.
"C'mon Ruri, you can do it! Just two full pieces and three minutes left." Yuuki encouraged.
It was easy for her to say, but regardless Ruri couldn't let herself stay longer than the hour and she refused to waste food so she pressed on.
Her stomach was physically hurting as she ate the fourth piece but she ignored it as she passed the two minute mark and slowly forced the bits of the fifth slice down her throat, finally putting the last bite in her mouth and then swallowing.
She groaned and slumped in her seat, finally finished and her belly ready to burst.
"That was amazing!" Yuuki exclaimed. "You're quite the impressive eater for such a small girl."
"Ungh, fo-foolish girl, mere mortal substances are no match for the queen of the nig- *urp*."
Yuuki laughed. "Well, we'd better go. We've only got about 30 seconds before our time is up. I'll put our plates away, you just head for the door."
Ruri groaned again. She didn't want to move, she just wanted lie down and nurse her aching tummy, but she knew she'd be penalized if she did and she had to be home in time to make dinner for her sisters.
She slowly stood up from her slumped position and tentatively grabbed her bag. She didn't want to bend her torso too much. Lances of pain went through her stomach every time she did so. She stood up straight and walked out with as much dignity as she could muster. Her loose sailor fuku did a surprisingly good job of hiding her distended stomach, which she could only feel at the moment. She would find out when she got home just how big it was.
"You're fantastic!" Yuuki said as she came out. "You feel like doing this again here tomorrow? I'd be happy to buy you breakfast."
Ruri looked at her. She really didn't feel like eating anything at the moment and almost the mention of eating more made her queasy; however a hearty breakfast tomorrow sounded good before she had to go out and buy several newly released manga that same day, especially if it was free. Also there was the promise she made with Tamaki. "Very well. Perhaps 9 O'clock then?"
"Sounds good. You need help getting home?"
"No I'm fine." Ruri said with a hint of terseness in her voice.
Yuuki didn't notice. "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow." Yuuki ran off, leaving the severely bloated and stuffed Ruri to go home on her own. At least she didn't live far from there, in fact she could see her building from where she stood, but it was still at least ten blocks away. She groaned as she lumbered home. "I hope nothing happens on the way, or else I'll never make it in time. She had barely an hour and a half from now to finish dinner for her sisters.
"Ugghhh, *urp* After all this trouble, I deserve a free meal." She said to herself.